The Ultimate Guide For Island Hopping Thailand (tips & tricks)

Island hopping Thailand is probably the most popular first big trip for young travellers and I can totally understand why! Some may say the islands are overcrowded and the authentic Thai lifestyle is gone. I am the last one to deny this as it definitely changed a lot over the years but I am guilty as well. A Thailand island Hopping adventure is always calling and I have never been able to say no to its beauty and the amazing travel vibe on every trip to the islands in Thailand.

Over the last 8 years I collected more than 40 Thai passport stamps and been there now 17 times. Somehow I have never been up North, but always headed South to the beaches. I still have not seen everything but for sure I can give you a lot of island hopping Thailand tips. With so many places to visit in Thailand it is hard to pick the right destinations, but wherever you will end up I am sure you are going to have a fantastic time!

Best season for a trip to Thailand

Apart from June and July I have been in Thailand every month of the year. The best season for a trip to Thailand is end of November till the beginning of April as it supposed to be the dry season but it is also the high season and prices will rise accordingly. Rainy season is during the European and US summer. Don’t let that hold you back too much though. I have been island hopping in Thailand in the rainy season before and it was not that bad at all. It can rain for an hour or 2 but after that its mostly sunny again. The dry season of 2017 was the other way around and heaps of islands were flooded in January. Nature nowadays is unpredictable. Fingers crossed!

Is it safe to travel to Thailand?

Numerous times I got the question: Is it is safe to travel to Thailand? I have never encountered any other problems apart from taxi drivers that were not willing to turn on their meters. To me there are no safety issues at all. I know I am man and that definitely makes things easier, but even for a girl there won’t be that much hassle, apart from drunk backpackers. Thai people are genuinely friendly, just be aware of the many scams. Those won’t hurt you, but they will hurt your wallet! Read more about safety issues in Thailand.

Start in Bangkok

Most probably you will start your island hopping Thailand adventure in the crazy Thai capital. Bangkok can be intimidating at first, but give it a chance and you will seriously love it. Walk around, take unexpected turns, and get lost. There is something interesting to see in every street. Of course make sure you are going to see the temples, enjoy a night out around Khao San Road, find a rooftop bar for a drink with a spectacular view, eat your heart out in Chinatown, explore the city by local boat, go to a pool party, roam around one of the many shopping malls, try a luxury Thai cinema or take a bike tour to see a totally different side of Thailand. If you are interested in markets don’t miss the Mae Klong Railway market or one of the floating markets. You want something more adventurous? Go wake boarding! Click here to about all my top 10 things to do in Bangkok.

How to get to and from Bangkok

From the BKK airport it is so easy: go down to the lowest floor of the airport and buy for 45THB ($1,30) a ticket into the city and then take a meter-taxi and you will get to your destination for max $4 in total! From the city to the airport there are also direct busses that run frequently to both airports BKK and DMK, they cost only about $4.

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Order you prepaid data sim card for Thailand online through SimEasy and be connected as soon as you land on Bangkok Airport, click on the link to read more about it.

Island hopping Thailand tips for the West coast

One of my favorite places to travel in Thailand is Krabi. First of all because of its unique limestone cliffs, stunning nature and incredible laid-back vibe. Second because it has some of the best islands in Thailand: Ao Nang, Tonsai, Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. And third because of the many adventures that can be organized like world class rock climbing and incredible hikes.

Island hopping from Krabi

Ao Nang is a touristy little town and is the perfect hub to get to either Tonsai or Railay beach. Plenty of simple nightlife and a lovely street food scene can be found here. The secluded bays of Railay and Tonsai are cut off from the mainland by massive limestone cliffs and therefore only reachable by boat; the ultimate beaches to relax plus this is the place where you can find the best rock climbing of the country. From Ao Nang there are many tours to the spectacular surrounding islands, take a look at my suggested Thailand Island Hopping routes for more island hopping Thailand tips around Krabi or read about the best beaches in Krabi.

Close to Ao Nang you can find two spectacular hikes: Tab Kak Hang Nak and the Tiger Temple. Try the challenging climb with unbelievable views over the limestone cliff landscape, the ocean and the surrounding islands. If you have some energy left there are 600 steps that lead to the top of a mountain where you can find the so-called Tiger Temple. Don’t worry there are no tigers here!

Koh Lanta

It took me a couple years to finally make it to this laid back island but it cannot be missed in any island hopping Thailand itinerary. Super friendly people and low-key island life is waiting for you. Some decent party places, long and wide beaches and a scooter friendly island to tour around. I really enjoyed my time in Koh Lanta. It was beginning of May and there was not much going on. Perfect to rejuvenate after partying in Koh Phi Phi.

Party on Koh Phi Phi

Of course this island group has to be included in any Thailand island hopping itinerary but I admit it is not my favorite! For party lovers this is heaven with parties all around the island every night. It is the most popular party island on the West coast where young backpackers meet and go wild, so if this is what you are looking for you will have a blast. Koh Phi Phi can also be visited if you are island hopping from Phuket. Beaches are still stunning but far from picture perfect nowadays with so many travelers. Of course it is still among the most beautiful places to visit in Thailand but it is not in my top 5 of best islands in Thailand. Just don’t have too high expectations; drink loads of alcohol and you will have an amazing time. I gotta go back.... LOL!

Island hopping from Phuket

Island hopping from Phuket is a very popular and if people ask me what to do in Phuket my answer is: escape! The islands around are among the best islands in Thailand, while the peninsula itself is not one of the best places to visit in Thailand, just incredibly popular due to its international. In fact the pictures that probably lured you to Phuket are from the islands nearby, so please decide to go island hopping from Phuket. The huge peninsula definitely has stunning beaches and resorts but it is so big it does not give me the island feeling. On the other hand if you are looking for an amazing place to just crash for a week and explore the fabulous islands around on day trips then Phuket can be a great choice. I created 4 times a Thailand backpacking route for 2 weeks and in every itinerary there is a spot for Phuket. Check them out in the link.

Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi

Talking about beautiful islands for an island hopping Thailand adventure: Yao Yai and Yao Noi are hidden gems! A short speedboat ride towards the East of Phuket will take you to these two fairly unknown islands and it was only till my 12th time in Thailand that I made it out here. Nowadays it is among my secret island hopping Thailand tips and for sure has one of the best beaches in Thailand. Come here to get the untouched Thai islandlife. Mass tourism does not exist here yet: pristine white sand beaches, deserted bays, authentic local restaurants, amazingly friendly people, wild monkeys and great back roads to explore on a scooter.

Similan Islands

Welcome to one of the best places to visit in Thailand for scuba diving. These gorgeous islands are luckily pretty well protected by the Thai government and they nowadays close some for a couple months a year to give them time to recover from tourism. For your interest staying overnight on the islands is almost impossible. Only overnight camping trips are available, but very limited. The best way to see the Similan islands are through a liveaboard, for non-divers there are day trips from Phuket.

There is no best way to travel Thailand and its islands, but if you have a week in the West coast then go island hopping from Phuket towards Koh Yao Yai, Koh Phi Phi and Ao Nang and back with a day trip to Similan Islands. This is an example of a 14 day tour of Thailand islands, click on the link to see more of them complete with maps for a better orientation.

Thailand island hopping guide for the East coast

There is no Thailand island hopping guide that forgets about Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. The Gulf of Thailand brings island hopping Thailand to another level. No limestone cliffs, but green hilly islands all within a 2-hour boat ride from each other. Every island has its own character so try to visit them all.

Koh Tao

For a real islandlife feeling you have to be in Koh Tao. It is the smallest island and the place where getting your scuba dive certification is among the cheapest in the world. This is one of the reasons I added this little island to my list of best places to go backpacking alone. There are hardly any cars on the island and hunting down stunning remote bays on a scooter is a must do in Koh Tao. Snorkeling, hiking and exploring viewpoints are among other things to do in Koh Tao besides diving. To me Koh Tao is one of the best islands in Thailand, as I have lived here for a while to do my PADI Divemaster training I might be biased, and I understand that all the horror stories about tourist muders in Koh Tao put you off. Shitty thing happen everywhere, just be cautious and use common sense. Don't act like one of those tourists who think they own the island after 3 beers and 1 shot.

Koh Pahngan

Everyone who plans a trip to Thailand comes across Koh Phangan as this is where the world famous Full Moon parties originates. This party mecca is not just about the Full Moon party, there is a Jungle Party, a Black Moon and a Half Moon Party too. That said this island is more than only parties! Mostly a Thailand island hopping guide doesn’t mention the hidden bays in the North or the yoga and detox retreats in the green hills.

Koh Samui

Welcome to the holiday island. Internationally well know for its luxury resorts and upscale beach clubs and always named in any Thailand island hopping itinerary. Since it has an international airport it is easy accessible, though with much less flights serving the island compared to Phuket. It is not that low-key as Phangan and Tao but it has its own charm. This is where you go for a little more upscale and luxury islandlife.

One of the better Island hopping Thailand tips is that you can easily stay on Koh Samui if you want to go to the Full Moon party. There are boats all night and it is only 30 minutes, but choose your boat wisely. Go for the big catamarans and avoid local boats for safety reasons. Normally I would say always support the locals, but not in this case!

Thailand island hopping tips for the South

The best islands in Thailand can be found all the way South on the border with Malaysia. It is a little off the beaten path and therefore not yet extremely touristy. This is where you find the best beaches in Thailand. You may have heard of the stunning Koh Lipe and its surrounding islands with their perfect white sand beaches. The Southern islands can best be reached from Langkawi in Malaysia, it is easier than from mainland Thailand itself. From Koh Lanta it is a 7-hour boat ride, from Langkawi it is only 1 hour. It is a perfect stop in an itinerary from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. Be aware that rough seas in the rainy season cut the islands off from the tourist trail and many boat companies don’t serve Koh Lipe in the off season.

Buy your sim card for Thailand online through SimEasy. For prices and more details click on their logo.

Cheap flights to Thailand

Find great flight deals to the country of Smile by checking out the Middle Eastern airlines with great monthly deals to Bangkok. Both Qatar Airways and Emirates bring Thailand closer to home, check out their surprising low fares.

Stay online while island hopping Thailand with Teppy? What is that? A portable WiFi device that lets you connect to the internet everywhere around the world for just a couple bucks!

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See behind the scenes stories of a professional travel blogger with in 2017 adventures from Australia, road trip through Europe, Nepal, Aruba, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and of course Thailand.

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My name is Tom and my biggest passion is obviously traveling. In 2008 I decided to go on a trip around the world and in 1 year I traveled through 24 countries from North America to South America, New Zealand, Australia and finally South East Asia.

I got back to the Netherlands and saved as much money as I could and in December 2012 I quitted my job again and ever since I am traveling the world. I have now been to almost 100 countries and this website and my social media accounts help me to travel the world. Traveling makes me a better person with ever day I am on the road. Don’t waste time live now, go out and explore the world! May you want to help a little please use my affiliate links. Thank you very much!

With this blog I love to give back and help you make the most out of your trip. I hope these tips will help. May you have specific questions please get in touch with me.